According to the Philippines News Agency (PNA), Taal volcanic activity continues to wane, and Alert Level 2 is maintained over Taal Volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Sunday.
(Source: philstar.com)
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs reported weak emission of steam-laden plumes rising 50 meters high before drifting northeast.
State volcanologists also recorded 16 volcanic earthquakes that are associated with rock fracturing processes beneath and around the volcano. The earthquakes included one low-frequency event associated with magmatic fluids.
Since Taal Volcano erupted on January 12 when it belched a thick column of smoke and ash into the skies, triggered by a steam-driven blast in the crater, many lives of families and animals have been greatly impacted, and the impacts remain til now.
A second eruption went off on January 13 when molten rock entered the volcano. More than 480,000 people in Batangas were affected by the eruptions and widespread evacuation orders forced people to flee for their safety.
And today, the PNA report indicates that the residents still need to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall, and minor earthquakes.
"Communities beside active river channels, particularly where ash from the main eruption phase has been thickly deposited, should increase vigilance when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall since the ash can be washed away and form lahars along the channels," Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs recommended that entry into TVI, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone, must be strictly prohibited local government units to assess previously evacuated areas within the seven-kilometer radius for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
Phivolcs said., "at Alert Level 2, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island (TVI) and along its coast."
Phivolcs also stressed that civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano since airborne ash and ballistic fragments from explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft.
Source: PNA
